As we laid under the sheets wrapped in each other's arms last night, the same question that has been lingering in my mind since this past weekend lingered in my mind. How was I supposed to tell Connery that his best friend is linked to the gang that is guilty of numerous rapes and murders? How was I supposed to tell my best friend the same thing?

I've been trying to figure out how I was going to tell them but no matter how I phrased it, it didn't sound any better. I wasn't going to let history repeat itself though. Part of building up back the broken trust is to continue being honest with each other because what took you months to build back up can shatter in seconds.

"Everest," One of the girls from my Criminal Psychology course, Lauren, said interrupting my thoughts. "Everest."

"Huh?" I asked. I was completely out of it for a good few minutes. "I'm sorry, I got lost in my thoughts, what were you saying?"

Lauren lets out a small laugh. "It's okay, I was just asking you if you think we should leave the introduction the way it is. I think it's good to go the way it is, but if you want, we can add more information."

Lauren is my partner for a project that we have due in a week for the course. Professor Lahey assigned a different case for each pair. We have to write an essay analyzing the criminal from different perspectives and we have to present it in class as well. Professor Lahey assigned us the Ted Bundy case. I do have to point out that I was way more excited than I should've been. There was a time when I was obsessed with this case (deep down I still am) I watched documentaries, interviews, read articles. Anything related to the case. So when Professor Lahey assigned us the case, I was thrilled to have the chance to do my analysis and present my take on it.

"I don't think there is anything more to add," I tell Lauren as I look over the introduction paragraph. "If we add more details it wouldn't be an introduction paragraph, it's straight to the point. After we finish the essay I can ask my best friend to look over it, she's a journalism major and she always does the corrections on my essays."

Lauren nods. "That's perfect then, at least there's one thing we don't have to worry about. I have to say, knowing that we have to present our take on the case makes me a little nervous."

"It makes me a little nervous too, Professor Lahey's curriculum vitae is so impressive that all of his experience in the field makes me question everything I want to write," I tell Lauren. "But he did say that he wants to see our take on the case, so even if it's different, I think we'll do just fine."

"True," Lauren replies. "There's so much to this case too. It involves so many factors that in the beginning I didn't even know involved. It's crazy how he spent so much time without getting caught."

"There is," I say. "And it is crazy, police consistently ruled him out based on his seemingly upstanding character and clean-cut appearance. He was able to avoid detection even longer by learning how to leave virtually no evidence that could be traced. The forensic techniques of that time weren't as advanced as they are now."

"What I can't even begin to understand is how he strangled or bludgeoned his victims as well as mutilating them after death. They say that he then prolonged the events by returning to visit the corpses at their dumpsites or even taking them home to gain further sexual gratification." Lauren says as she goes over her notes.

"He talks about that in his interviews too if I'm not mistaken," I tell Lauren. "This case is another example of how much power our minds hold over us, there are so many things that you still can't explain."

"It's a bit scary if you think about it, when you see his interviews he talks and acts like a normal person. If I had seen him in the street walking past me or even had a brief conversation with him, the thought that he was a killer would've never crossed my mind." Lauren says.

"I completely agree with you," I tell her. My phone started buzzing in my pocket, it was Olivia. That meant I had to get going. "I have to go."

"It's okay, go ahead. I have class in an hour so I'll just start writing my part until it's time for me to head to class." Lauren smiles. I close my laptop and I put it inside my backpack alongside my notebook.

"I'm almost done with my part," I say. "I'll add it to the Google doc, that way you can go over it and you can tell me if I need to change or add anything."

Lauren nods. "No problem."

"I will see you in class on Thursday then," I smile. "If you need help with anything, let me know. I have practice from four to seven, after seven I can help you with anything you need."

"Don't worry, if I need anything I'll let you know." Lauren smiles. "Thank you, Everest, I'll see you on Thursday."

I smile as I throw my backpack over my shoulder and walk out of the campus library. Today the doctor was going to give us an update on Macy. That's why instead of heading over to the firm, I was going to drive over to the hospital instead. Things weren't looking still but we all remained optimistic. Her mom has told us many times that her little girl is a fighter and we believe her.

On my way to the hospital, I stopped at the street market that was a few minutes away from the hospital and I bought a bouquet for Macy. Daisies to be more specific, Macy's mom mentioned that they are her favorite. I thought that maybe she would love the smell of daisies that reminded her a little bit of home in her room.

"Hey Olivia," I smile as I greet Olivia. Olivia was sitting in one of the hospital chairs outside of Macy's room. "I was working on a school project when you called, I forgot to return the call."

"Hey Everest, don't worry, I just wanted to know if you were on your way." Olivia smiles. "The doctor just walked in. Macy's mom wanted to wait for you to get here before he told her the results."

"How did you find him?" I ask Olivia as she stands up from the chair. "Did he looked optimistic or do you think it's all bad news?"

"I don't think we'll be receiving optimistic news," Olivia frowns. "It's a good thing you brought flowers."

A million thoughts passed through my mind and as I walked into Macy's room, I thought about every possible diagnosis the doctor could give us. Macy's mom was impatiently tapping her right leg until she saw us walk in. "Everest, you're finally here."

She smiles as she gets up from the chair next to Macy's bed. "Hi Andrea, I'm sorry I'm late, I was working on a project for one of my classes. And I also stopped at the street market to get these for Macy."

I hand Andrea the bouquet and she engulfs me in a hug. "Thank you, Macy is going to love seeing these when she wakes up."

"Dr. Rhodes," I greet.

"Everest," He greets back with a smile. "Now that we are all here, I can share with you the results of Macy's tests. As you already know, Macy began to have a couple of seizures during this past weekend. Since she is in a coma we couldn't know the reason why the seizures were happening since she is not awake to tell us how she was feeling. That's why one of my colleagues and I determined that a head CT would be our best option in this case."

"Are those the results you're going to give us?" Andrea asks. "I just ask because you did perform other tests on her as well."

"Yes," Dr. Rhodes nods. "The head CT revealed that Macy has cerebral edema also known as brain swelling. Fluid is developing in Macy's brain, which consequently is increasing the pressure inside of her skull. As the pressure begins to increase, the level of oxygen on her brain decreases. The brain needs an uninterrupted flow of oxygen to function properly, which is why Macy started having seizures." I look down as I begin to process what Dr. Rhodes was telling us. We have been so optimistic, but it seems like every time we get our hopes up, something goes wrong.

"Do you know what caused the brain swelling?" I ask Dr. Rhodes.

"Yes," Dr. Rhodes replies. "Her fall, we also took Macy in for an MRI. Those results showed us that the impact of when Macy hit the concrete cause her skull to rupture on the lower side. The broken pieces of the skull can rupture blood vessels in the brain which lead to swelling."

"Is there any way her brain swelling can be treated?" Andrea asks.

"That's what I wanted to discuss with you," Dr. Rhodes replies. "There are various treatment options we can try and it's completely up to you which one you prefer for the health of your daughter, but due to Macy's state I believe that surgery would be the most effective treatment."

"I trust you, Dr. Rhodes, my daughter is in your hands. You do whatever you think will be best for her and her health." Andrea replies. "If surgery is the best option, I have no objection. How soon will she going into surgery?"

"We want to relieve the swelling as soon as possible." Dr. Rhodes replies. "I have a short surgery later this morning but if the operating room is empty, I will schedule Macy for surgery later this afternoon."

Andrea nods. "I know that I may not like the answer to the question but I have to ask. What's the long-term outlook for Macy after the surgery?"

"I have to be honest with you Mrs. Kingsley. It doesn't look good but as I tell every single one of my patients. Every case is different, so even though it may not look good, the outcome can be something completely different." Dr. Rhodes replies. "Brain swelling is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage to your memory and ability to think. But as I told you before, every case is different. Try to remain optimistic, your daughter is a fighter."

Olivia needed to head back to the precinct so I stayed behind with Andrea once Dr. Rhodes left. After the news we had just received, Andrea needed someone to be there for her. She is strong, just like her daughter, but even the strongest people break sometimes. "I lost my husband when I was three months pregnant, at that time I didn't even know I was."

Andrea began to speak as we were both sitting next to Macy. "I remember the day when I took the test, two weeks after my husband's funeral. What was supposed to feel like the happiest moment of my life felt the complete opposite. I was still grieving and adding a baby into the mix didn't sit right with me. I was angry, terrified, but mostly terrified."

"I can only imagine how that felt Mrs. Kingsley," I frown.

"You have no idea Everest," Andrea replies. "It all changed when I held Macy for the first time. When she wrapped her tiny little hands around my fingers. That day I promised myself that I was going to do everything in my power to protect her and always keep her safe."

"And you did Mrs. Kingsley, what happened wasn't your fault."

"I can't help but blame myself a little Everest because I can't help but wonder if I protected her too much," Andrea says and her eyes begin to water. "Being homeschooled, Macy was always a shy kid. The moment she told me she wanted to go away for college, I couldn't bear the thought of having her miles away from home."

"Mrs. Kingsley, that's what mother's do, because of the love they have for their children," I reassure her. "And I can imagine how hard it must've been for you."

"I should have known that she wasn't ready for the pledge parties, for drinking.  I was certain that something bad was going to happen to her." Andrea breaks down crying. "And look at her now, my sweet little baby, breathing through a machine because she can't do it on her own. He's taking my little girl away from me Everest, I can feel her slipping away."

Andrea broke down even more and I comforted her in the only way I knew. Actions speak louder than words, don't they?  So at that moment all I did was hug her because as much as I wanted to tell her that everything was going to be okay, it wasn't something that was guaranteed. After two hours of comforting her and a hot cup of tea from the cafeteria, Andrea fell asleep. Dr. Rhodes came back to tell me that Macy's surgery was scheduled for five in the afternoon.

Connery called me and asked if I could drive by the house before practice. He had told me yesterday that he was going out with Emma for lunch today. And from the tone of his voice, I knew that something had gone wrong. I didn't want to leave Andrea by herself so I called Laura and asked her if she could stay with her until Olivia made it back from the precinct. She told me that she could, so I waited for her to arrive before I drove to the house to see Connery.

"Hey baby girl," Connery says as he pecks my lips. He tried to force a smile, but I noticed from the moment he walked out of the house that he wasn't okay.

"Hey handsome," I smile. "How was your day?"

I wanted to ask him if anything happened with Emma, but I wanted it to come from him when he was ready to talk about it. I had a pretty good feeling it had something to do with his dad since it's a conversation Connery had put on hold with Emma. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to give him the choice of telling me when he was ready.

"It started great," Connery replies. "But it all went to shit when I went to lunch with Emma."

"Did something happen?" I ask.

"We had the long-overdue conversation about my dad," Connery sighs. "She wants me to have a conversation with him."

"What did you tell her?" I ask. "I know you don't want to even see him again but did she at least give you a good reason why you should even consider it?"

"I told her the same thing, I told him. That he was nine years too late." Connery replies. "She told me that he contacted her right before she left for Paris and she met with him. Mom did too."

"Your mom went to see him? How does that make you feel?" I ask.

"I was angry, but just like Emma, it was her choice. They had the right to get the closure that they had been wanting for so long." Connery says. "The thing is that I feel like that just because they gave him that chance, it doesn't mean that I have to as well."

"It doesn't Connery, it's your choice," I tell him. "He hurt you deeply and it's okay if you don't want to sit down to have a conversation with him."

"He has Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, it has already spread to his entire body." Oh no.

"Baby," I frown as I caress Connery's cheeks. "That's why he went to see you."

"Yeah," Connery says looking down. "Mom and Emma think that I should sort out my unresolved feelings, they say I need my closure. Ev, to me, he's not my dad. He stopped being it a long time ago. But why do I feel like I got hit by a ton of bricks? Why do I care?"

"Because you loved the man he once was baby, he changed yes, but he's still the same man. And no matter how much he hurt you, Emma, or your mom. That love for the man that you once knew as your father is still there." I reply.

"They gave him three months tops," Connery says. "He's in the hospital, Emma told me that they admitted him a few days ago and that it's not looking good."

"Are you thinking about going to see him?" I ask.

"I've been thinking about it ever since I dropped Emma off, but the pain, it's clouding my thoughts. Emma and mom don't want me to live to regret that I never gave him the chance to explain." Connery says. "I don't want to give him that chance, he doesn't deserve it. Not after all the hell, he put us true. But what if they're right? Will I regret it for the rest of my life? What would you do?"

"I don't know what I would do if it were me in your position Connery, you don't know what it feels like until you are the one that's going through it. What would you tell me to do if I was in your position? That's the best advice I can give you." I reply. "I may not have the answers you're looking for, but know this. Whatever you decide to do, I will be here with you. Every step of the way, I will be by your side. If you want to go to the hospital, I'll go with you. If you decide not to go, I'll be here as well. Just know that this time, you're not going to go through it alone."

I was planning on telling Connery about my recent discovery while I was on my way here but I decided not to, at least not right now. He had a lot going on for today with everything Emma told him about their dad. And there was one thing I needed to do before I told him before I told Peyton. I needed answers and there was only one person who could give me the answers I was looking for. And at that moment I knew exactly what I needed to do.

I was going to confront Ross Nathaniel Dant.